New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-23
THE RUNSELLERS FIGHT

The rumsellers have plainly made up their
minds. since the Governor so encouraged them
with his vcto to oppose, and if possible beat
every measure looking to diminution of the
drink evil. They have instructed their Dem
ocratic tools to hamper and hinder all temper
ancc legislation, and the treatment oil inc
Vcdder bill in the Senate discloseS the line OF
policy agreed upon. All sorts OF frivolous ana
mischicvous amendments were offered IN
happily. two Republican members joined the
natural allies of the rumsecrs and helped them
to obstruct the BILL and it must be said that
Senator Coggeshall proposed the most damas
ing of all these changes. The feature OF the
bill which commcnds it most strongly to the
taxpayer of the interior of the State Is that
which dedcates the revenue derived from 1t
TO the uses of the whole State, thus relieving
the country districts considerably. inasmucb rs
the bulk of the burden will be borne by New
York and Brooklyn. The removal of this pro.
vision unoueStionably would alter the scope and
significance of the measure radically, and must
be expected to ALLEVIATE the support OF many
| of the interior members
Senator Coggeshall must have remarkable
confidence in his star if he thinks that so
deadly an assault upon the bill which Is de-
manded by all the hest elements In the state
will bring him nothing but good and II he
has no regard for the people OF Newly ork out
side his own district he can hardly nave the
making of statesman in him. Such venom
| ous attacks should be left for the Democrats
to undertake. The worst is expected OF them.
and coming from them will surprise nobody.
for the public have not to learn at this late
hour that they are the fitting and natural agents
and representatives of the rum power and the
| saloon in politics. The Democrats in the Sen
ate have. moreover, frankly admitted that 1t
is their purpose to heat the bill if they can.
and no one need question their sincerity when
tbcv make q statement of that kind. The Re
pubcans have been hampercd by the absence
Of two of their members III the Senate, as wen
as by the detection Of two others. and the
Democrats seem to have succeeded IN conius-
ing some of their opponents by the deluge oil
amendments which they introduced. This per
haps accounts for the passage OF amendments
which must have had Republican votes to pass
them. vet which certainly never ought to have
had those votes
II is evident that Senator COggcShall's amend
ment must be taken out of the bill, or 1t VIII
amount to nothing, and the sooner the he
publicans realize this the better. They cannot
afford to initiate their political opponents IN
making believe to pass measures and IN doug
ing test votes This bill ought to pass as II
was amended by its author. II IS useless TO e
on with it in the cmasculatcd form the Senate
has already reduced it to- The chef feature
in it, struck out by the Coggcshall amendment
must be restored, or all the work done upon
the measure will have been thrown away, and
the situation will he worse than If it had never
been introduced. The Democrats will, o.
course do all in their power to defeat the Dill
They doubtless think they may as well tic nuns
for sheep as a lamb. Governor HillS veU
has committed the party fully TO the defence
the saloons. and it might just as well make
thorough job of the dirty work But the Dem
ocrats cannot kill the Nedder bill unless th
Republicans help them to do so. II the ne
publicans act conccrtedly and with singh
eve TO the right they can pass the bill, and II
so doing they will at the same time prove TIN
good faith of the part beyond dispute In
BILL however, must be passed in It's integrity
and not stripped Of any of its distinctive feat
ures to curry favor with any branch OF tn
: rum power And in order that the Democrat
obstructv We tactics should he met with a bette
prospect of success. the Republicans ought I
have clearer understanding among themsclye
of what is essential TO the principle of tll
I measure